Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-06-22
The ARKANSAS HERMIT.
4 Man VINO Lived Alone In the Forests for
More Than Fifty-twO Years.

4 Man VINO Lived Alone In the Forests for
More Than Fifty-twO Years.
IN. V. Worid.l
The death IL announced Of William NJ
ShcltSn, at his home on Bayou Bartholo-
new, In the extreme southern portion Of
tho State, writes Little Rock. Aris. cor
respondent Shelton had an extraordinary
hfe-history He came 10 this State IN 1881
from New York. OF which State he was a
native. His parents were wealthy and
connected with many OF the prominent
families who seventy years ago nodded
public opinion In tha in the interior OF
New York. lie attended the University OF
Virginia at Charlottesville, and graduated
from that institution with the highest
Donors. While there he fell violently IN
love with the daughter OF RGv. Mr. Lewis,
an .Scopal clergyman The laty was
worry beautiful but coquctte. She
encouraged shelton only TO fit bin. Tho
sensitive young student never recovered
from the shock Wounded 70 the quick,
he lsft school and became n wanlercr on
the face Of tho earth. Ills nature was
changed a. " by magic, and from n genial
youth he was transformed into n gloomy,
tsciturn man and n confirmed woman
hatcr.
He drifted 10 Arkansas. settling In the
vicinity Of Pms Bluff. The country was
Then a wilderness. There were few white
families within a radius Of twenty miles,
the QuApaw Indians being the principal
inhabitants For some years Shelton
lived here IN utter solitude. With the ad.
won't Of civilization he moved further
eouth, locating near tin edge OF n dense
forest on tho hanks Of Bayou Bartholo-
new, nearly thirty miles from any human
being. lie erected rude, hut comfort
NIB Ia tne N.lI -. t,,l. 4.
Ing all thu necessary work himself His
forest home bring completed, he settled
down 10 life Of solitude With hi, dogs
AMI gun he hunted IN forest and cancbrnkc.
shooting deer, bear and will turkey,
which game no carried on horseback &c
Pine BluR hfty-four mics distant, the
proceeds Of tho sale Of IL supplying him
with the nocessitIcs OF life IL his hunt
Ing excursions no hal many narrow es-
eapaA In the fau Of 1881 whilo hunting,
the dogs found bear In the canbrakc.
Tho animal had cut down the cane In
Quantities and had built hugo nest, taxi.
Ing refuge In tho center. II was started
ont with d iiiculty, and showed fight.
khclton shot u once, but before be could
Frload IL was upon him, bearing him to
th0 earth. A desperate struggle followed.
Tie dogs came 20 tho hunters assistance,
and with their aid his life was saved and
abe bear was killad. Shelton, however
carried 70 his grave the scars received in
the light.
occasionally q. bciatod traveller found a
hlyea' ~ SholtOn's cabin, though nc roso-
lhtcly Shunnccs Comfn un icntiOs with man
KIND. Tho house was furnished in the
ruddcst manner. There was n big. old
fashioned fireplace, and the puncheon
bOor was covered hero and there with
Lear skins. But what attracted tie alton.
ton Of tho intelligent visitor was booI-
caso containing works OF the greatest
authors Of she past and present centuries.
There wore volumes Of ancient poe try,
and volumes In Greek, Latin, German AMI
Ercuch. IL was evident that this
forcst hermit WAS Intelligent; in short,
crudito In tho sirictest meaning OF the
worl. II was rumorol that Shelton had
n large sum Of money hidden in his cabin,
the amount being placed Mt 1000 in gold.
At midnight on August -, 1886, three men
entered the house, bound and gagged
Shelton, aud searched tho premises thor,
oughly, ending some $40 In silver. They
released shelton aud disappeared, salts
Ned that the hermit had no hidden treas.
pre. shelton died Of Pneumonia Ho was
nl only fow days. Ilo was busieI In the
forest near tina cabin in which he lived
solitary and alone for more than hfty. two
Eonra.